Edge opening device



Feb. 16, 1965 B. p. CAVE EDGE OPENING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Sept. 1, 1959 INVENTOR BOYD D. CAVE BY M QMZW HIS ATTORNEYS Feb. 16-, 1965 B. D. CAVE.

EDGE OPENING DEVICE Original Filed Sept. 1, 1959 FIGA INVENTOR BOYD DACAVE' BY {Q HIS ATTORNEYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Qriginal Filed Sept. 1, 1959 me FIGJO O 107 FI G15 QNVENTOR BOYD D. CAVE BY W HIS ATTORNEYS Feb. 16, 1965 B. D. CAVE EDGE OPENING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Sept 1, 1959 FIG.I9

INVENTOR BOYD D. CAVE BY (((M HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office hltihfi 'i Eatented Feb. 16, I955 3,169,427 EDGE GIENING DEVIQE Boyd D. Cave, Chesterfield County, Va, assignor to Reynolds Metals Company, Richmond, Va, a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 837,397, Sept. 1, 1959. This application Sept. 21, E62, Ser. No. 225,968 18 Elaims. (Cl. 33-4) This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for splitting at least a portion of an end of a flat sheet and the like. In particular, this invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for splitting at least a portion of an end of a laminated metal sheet and the like where adjacent laminations are ioined together.

It has been found desirous to split or indent a portion of the end of a flat sheet of metal and the like at a predetermined location whereby the resulting indentation can be utilized for ornamentation purposes, attaching means, means for facilitating further splitting of the sheet, or means for further separating adjacent laminations. In order to split or indent a portion of the end of a flat sheet of metal or the like at a desired location, this invention provides indenting means to split or divide the end of the sheet into two sections each having a desired crosssectional thickness. Further, since the indenting means forces the split sections of the sheet outwardly in opposite directions relative to the plane of the fiat sheet, this invention permits the split sections to be so formed without subjecting the metal of the split sections to additional compressing forces regardless of the respective cross-sectional thicknesses of the split sections. Further, this invention provides means for maintaining the flat sheet in a predetermined position relative to the indenting element in order to indent or split the same at the desired location regardless of the cross-sectional thickness of the sheet.

Therefore, according to the teachings of this invention an improved method and apparatus are provided which will positively locate and maintain a flat sheet or the like in a predetermined position relative to a forcibly movable indenting element regardless of the particular cross-sectional thickness of the sheet whereby the indenting element will split or indent a portion of the end of the sheet at the desired location into two sections, at least one of the split sections being forced outwardly out of the plane of the sheet against a resilient member. In this manner the split section of the sheet is permitted to be forced outwardly by the indenting element against a deformable member which will not subject the metal of the split section to adverse forces regardless of the cross-sectional thickness of the sheet. One form of an apparatus formed in accordance with the teachings of this invention includes a pair of relatively movable plates defining a fiat sheet-like zone between opposed surfaces thereof for receiving and maintaining a flat sheet in a predetermined position relative to an indenting element. The indenting element is a movable member and is adapted to be forcibly moved into the flat sheet-like zone and split a portion of the end of the sheet into two sections, at least one of the sections being forced outwardly by the indenting element into a resilient portion forming at least part of the adjacent plate. After the indenting element has split the portion of the end of the flat sheet the desired distance, the forcioly movable member is moved away from the fiat sheet whereby the indenting element is removed from the split portion of the sheet. The relatively movable plates then release the flat sheet whereby the indented sheet can be removed from the apparatus and be utilized for a desired purpose.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved method and appaartus for splitting a portion of an end of a flat sheet or the like having one or more of the novel features set forth above and hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of one form of a sheet sphtting apparatus formed in accordance with the teachings of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1 and is taken on line 2-2 thereof.

FIGURE 3 is another cross-sectional view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1 and is taken on line 33 thereof. I

FIGURE 4 is a front view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 and illustrates the same in its sheet receiving position.

FIGURE 6 is a View similar to FIGURE 5 illustrating the apparatus of FIGURE 1 in another one of its operating positions.

FIGURE 7, similar to FIGURES S and 6, illustrates the apparatus of FIGURE 1 splitting a portion of the end of a flat sheet.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a top view of one form of an indenting element utilized with the apparatus of FF- URE 1.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary top view of a fiat sheet which has been indented by the apparatus of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 10 is an end view of the indented sheet illustrated in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a side view of one of the operating parts of the apparatus of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 12 is a front view of the part illustrated in FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 13 is a top view of the part illustrated in FIGURE 11.

FIGURE 14 is a side view of another part of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 15 is a front view of the part illustrated in FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 and is taken on line 1t516 thereof, FIGURE 16 illustrating the cooperation between the parts illustrated respectively in FIGURES 11 and 14.

FIGURE 17 is a top view of another part of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 and is taken on line 17-17 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 and ilustrates another form of a sheet splitting apparatus.

FIGURE 19 is a fragmentary side view and illustrates another modification of this invention.

FIGURE 20 is a view similar to FIGURE 18 and illustrates still another modification of this invention.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the various figures thereof to designate like parts where appropriate, and particular reference is made to FIGURES 1-4 illustrating a sheet splitting apparatus formed in accordance to the teachings of this invention and generally indicated by the reference number lit. The sheet splitting apparatus It) includes a lower frame or base carrying a pair of parallel posts 12 and 13 extending vertically upwardly from the frame 11 and being respectively received within bushings or collars I4 and 15 respectively secured Within bores 16 and 17 passing vertically through an upper frame 18.

The upper frame 18 is adapted to be forcibly moved as viewed in FIGURE 2 of the drawings.

a upwardly or downwardly on the posts 12 and 13 relative to the lower frame 11 by suitable ram means (not shown), such as a power cylinder of a hydraulic press and the like, interconnected to an end of a shaft 19 secured to and projecting vertically upwardly from the upper frame 18. A flat plate'20 is inter-connected to the upper frame member 18 by a plurality of bolts 21, the flat plate 20 projecting vertically downwardly from the upper frame member 18 and having a U-shaped opening 22 formed therein for a purpose later to be described. The flat plate 20 engages and-is adapted to be moved relative to a guide member 23 secured to the lower frame member 11 by a plurality of bolts 24 and locating pins 25. The guide member 23 has an opening 26 passing therethrough and extends vertically upwardly from the lower frame member 11. V

A cam 27 is secured to the undersurface of the upper frame member 18 by a plurality of bolts 28 and a locating pin 29. The cam 27 has a flat end surface 30 disposed in engagement with the flat plate 20 carried by the upper frame member 18. As shown in FIGURES 3, ll, 12, and 13, the cam 27 has a U-shaped opening 31 formed in the lower end thereof, the opening 31 cooperating with opening 22 formed in the fiat plate 20. A pair of side plates32 and 33 are secured to the cam 27 by a plurality of bolts 34, the plates 32 and 33 projecting beyond an angularly disposed cam surface 35 of the cam 27 and having opposed inwardly directed flanges 36 and 37 respectively. A pair of crossed oil or lubricating grooves 38 and 39 are formed in the cam surface 35 of 'the cam 27.

Another cam 40 is secured for'axial movement relative to the lower frame member 11 by a pair of plates 41 and 42 (see FIGURES 3 and 16) secured to the lower frame member 11 by a plurality of bolts 43, the plates 41 and 42 respectively having inwardly projecting flanges 44 and 45 overlapping respective outwardly projecting flanges 46 and 47 extending from the respective sides 48 and 49 of the cam 40. The cam 40 has an angularly disposed cam surface 50 disposed in cooperating engagement with the cam surface 35 of the cam 27 whereby downward verticalmovement of the cam 27 relative to the lower frame 11 causes the cam 48 to be moved horizontally to the right A pair of slanting grooves 51 and 52 (see FIGURES '14, 15 and 16) are formed respectively in the sides 48 and 49 of. the cam 40 and respectively receive the inwardly directed flanges 36 and 37 of the cam 27 whereby lateral movement of the cams 27 and 40 relative to each other is prevented.

A lower support plate, generally indicated by the reference numeral 53, comprises a support member 54 secured to the lower frame member 11 by a plurality of bolts 55 and locating pins 56. The support member 54 is cut away at 57 to provide a flat'surface 58 extending from one end 59 thereof toward the other end 60, the

flat surface 58 terminating at a point spaced from the end 60 of the support member 54 to define an upwardly extending shoulder or abutment means 61 at the end 61) thereof. A flat. plate 62 is secured to the surface 58 of the support member 54 and has a top flat surface 63 disposed parallel to and a predetermined distance below a top fiat surface 64 of the shoulder 61 for a purpose later to be described.

An upper support plate, generally indicated by the reference numeral 65, comprises a support member 66 having a fiat lower surface 67 adapted to cooperate with the fiat surface 63 of the lower support plate 53 inamanner hereinafter described. A top fiat surface. 68 of the s pport member 66 is cut away at 69 to receive a flat plate 70 secured to the support'rnember by a plurality of bolts 71. The support member 66 has a cut away portion 72 (see FIGURE 17) at the rear thereof receiving a resilient member 73, such as rubber and the like, which is held in the cut away portion 72 of the upper support plate 65 by an inwardly directed shoulder 74 formed around the lower periphery of cut away portion 72. A pair of superimposed plates 75 and 76 are secured to the support member 66 by a plurality of bolts 76a, the assembled plates 75 and 76 being received in a larger cut away portion 77 formed in the end of the plate 70 and the support member 65 and engaging the resilient member 73. In this manner the resilient member 73 is carried by the upper support plate 65 and has a lower surface 7 9 thereof normally disposed in the same plane as the lower surface 6'7 of the support member 66.

The upper support plate 65 is secured to the upper frame member 18 by a pair of pins 80 (only one pin 80 being shown in FIGURE 2) secured at one end thereof to the plate 70 of the upper support plate 65 and being telescopically received at'the other end thereof in a pair of stepped bores 81 formed in the upper frame member 18. Each stepped bore 81 has a shoulder 82 at the lower end thereof which is adapted to engage an enlarged head 83 of the respective pin 80 when the upper frame member '18 is raised vertically upwardly whereby the upper support plate 65 is carried by and raised vertically with the upper rame member 18.

A plurality of vertically extending bores 84 are formed in the top surface 68 of the upper support'member 65 and are coaxially disposed with respect to a plurality of vertically extending bores 85 formed in the upper frame member 18. A plurality of compression springs 86 are respectively disposed between the upper frame member 18 and the upper support plate 65 and are received in the respective bores 84 and 85 thereof whereby the compression springs 86 tend to force the upper support plate 65 downwardly away from the upper frame member 18 for a purpose later to be described.

The low surface 67, 79 of the upper support plate 65 is adapted to cooperate with the upper surface 63 of the lower support plate 53 to define a fiat sheet-like zone 87 ,therebetween, the cross-sectional'thickness of the sheetlike zone 87 being determined by the particular crosssectional thickness of a flat sheet to be indented or split by the apparatus 10. r

The movable cam 40 has an outwardly directed flat shoulder 88 disposed in the same plane as the plane of the top surface 64 of the shoulder 61 of the lower support plate 53. An indenting element 89, having a pair of flat opposed surfaces 90 and 91, is secured to the flat shoulder 88 of the cam 40 by a retainer 92 superimposed upon the flat surface 91 of the indenting element 89 and being secured to the cam 40 by a plurality of bolts 93, one of the bolts 93 passing through an aperture 194 formed in the indenting element 89. In order to maintain the indenting element 89 in the proper lateral position relative to the cam 40, the retainer 92 is formed with a groove 92a which closely receives the indenting element 89 when the retainer 92 is secured to cam 4t]. The indenting end 195 of the indenting element 89 is chisel-shaped and is formed by tapering the top surface 91 thereof into the bottom surface 90 thereof. The indenting end 195 of the indenting element 89 may be rounded as illustrated in FIGURE 8.

When the cam 48 is in the position illustrated in FIG- URE 2, the lower surface 90 of the indenting element 89 is adapted to rest on the upper surface 64 of the lower support plate 53 whereby the indenting end 185 thereof is disposed in the fiat sheet-like zone 87 and is spaced a predetermined distance above the upper surface 63 of the lower support plate 53. The resilient member 73 of the upper'suppont plate 65 is disposed adjacent the indenting element 89.

A stepped groove94 (see FIGURE 3) is formed in the side of the plate 76 disposed adjacent the plate 75 of the'upper support plate 65 and is adapted to receive a hold-down element 95 having an end 96 projecting through the lower portion 97 of the groove 94 and being adapted to engage the indenting element 89 The hold down member 95 is resiliently urged into engagement with the indenting element 89 by a compression spring 93 engaging the hold-down member 95 at one end thereof and the upper frame member if? at the other end thereof, the compression spring 98 being disposed within a bore 99 formed in the upper frame member 1%. The lower end $6 of the hold-down member 95 is rounded whereby the indenting element 89 is adapted to cam the same upwardly when being initially received in the flat sheetlike zone 87 in a manner more fully described hereinafter.

The cam 44? carries a horizontally extending rod 1% (see FIGURES 1 and 2) projecting through the bore 26 in the guide member 23 and having a threaded free end 161 receiving a nut 162. A compression spring 163 is telescopically disposed on the rod full and engages a washer illd at one end thereof and the guide member 23 at the other end thereof. In this manner the spring res tends to move the cam member 4% to the left when the upper frame member 13 is raised vertically upwardly. It is to be understood, however, that the cam 4th could be automatically moved to the left by power means symchronized with the movement of the upper frame member 18 if desired. Further, the inwardly directed flanges 36 and 37 of the cam 27 tend to move the cam 4%; to the left when the cam 27 is being raised vertically upwardly.

The operation of the sheet-splitting apparatus 1% will now be described. As shown in FIGURE 5, the upper frame member 18 has been raised vertically upwardly by the ram means interconnected to the shaft 19 in a manner well known in the art. Since the upper frame member 13 has been raised a greater distance than the length of the pins 8%), the upper support plate 65 is carried therewith whereby the lower surface 67, 79 thereof is raised above the upper surface 63 of the lower support plate 53. The cam member at) has been moved to the left by the spring 163 or other means in the manner previously described whereby the indenting element 85 is disposed remote from the shoulder 61 of the lower support plate 53.

A flat sheet 165 of metal or the like, having a pair of opposed flat surfaces 166 and 157, is disposed on the upper surface 63 of the lower support plate 53 with an end 168 thereof disposed in abutting engagement with the shoulder 51 of the lower support plate 53. The flat plate 57 of the lower support plate 53 is so constructed that the upper surface 63 thereof is disposed in predetermined distance below the top surface 64 of the shoulder 51, the predetermined distance determining the particular location where the end N8 of the sheet 165 is to be indented or split.

After the sheet 195 has been assembled on the lower support plate 53 in the manner set forth above, the upper frame member 18 is progressively lowered toward the lower frame member 11 by the ram means. As the upper frame member 18 moves vertically downwardly, the upper support plate 65 moves downwardly therewith until the lower surface d7, 79 thereof engages the top surface 1&7 of the sheet 195 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6. Further movement of the upper frame 13 downwardly permits the upper support plate 65 to remain stationary through the telescoping relation of the pins 39 with n the bores 31 of the upper frame member 18 whereby the compression springs 86 are progressively compressed between the upper frame member 18 and the upper support plate 65 and thus progressively urge the upper support plate 65 against the sheet 105 with an increasing force. In th s manner, the sheet 195 is firmly secured between the upper support plate 65 and the lower support plate 53 and relative movement thereof is prevented.

As the upper frame member 38 is lowered vertically, the cam surface o f the cam 27 causes the cam 46 to be moved to the right in opposition to the force of the spring 1 .33 whereby the flat surface 9% of the indenting end 1% of the indenting element 89 cams the holddown member upwardly whereby the indenting element 89 passes along the surface 64 and is received in the flat sheet-like zone 87. In this manner the indenting element 25 indents and splits the end 1% of the sheet 163 into two sections Hi9 and ill) as illustrated in FIGURE 7. Since the lower surface 93 of the indenting element 39 is flat, only the upper split section lllil is forced upwardly by the indenting element 39. Since the resilient member 73 is disposed adjacent the indenting element 89 when the same is received in the flat sheet-likezone 87 and is disposed in engagement with the top surface 167 of the sheet 105, the split section 119 is forced upwardly by the indenting element 89 and is compressed into the resilient member 73. In this manner, the metal of the split section 116 is not subjected to additional forces which would be imposed upon the same if the adjacent portion of the upper support plate 65 was not formed of resilient material. Further, since the cross-sectional thickness of the split section 1439 remains the same regardless of the cross-sectional thickness of the sheet 1%, the support plates 53 and 6S permit the apparatus It to split an end of a sheet of any cross-sectional thickness in such a manner that the upper split section 119 is compressed into the resilient member 73 so that metal of the same is not subjected to adverse forces.

The force of the spring 98 acting against the hold-down element 5 maintains the indenting element at the proper horizontal position while the same is moving horizontally and splitting the sheet M5.

The distance that the indenting element 89 projects into the end 1% of the sheet 3195 is limited by the particular length of the indenting element 89 as well as the distance that the cam 44 is permitted to move to the right before the same abuts the lower support plate 53.

After the sheet 195 has been indented in the above manner, the upper frame member 18 is raised vertically upwardly by the ram means and the cam 46 is moved to the left by the combined forces of the compression spring 163 and the action produced by the flanges 36 and 37 of the cam 27 acting against the cam 40. After the indenting element 89 has been fully withdrawn from the end 1498 of the sheet 1%, the heads 33 of the pins 80 are engaged by the shoulders 32 of the upper frame member 18 whereby the upper support plate 65 is raised vertically upwardly away from the sheet M35 in order that the sheet M35 can be removed from the apparatus 10.

As shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, the indented sheet 185 has an indentation 111 formed in the end 108 thereof which can be utilized for one or more of the purposes previously set forth.

It should be understood, that if the sheet 185 is formed from a pair of laminations secured together in a manner well known in the art and each having the same crosssectional thicknesses as the respective split sections 109 and 110, the indenting element 89 of the apparatus ll would split the laminated sheet where the adjacent laminations are joined together. It should also be understood that the indenting element 8% could split the sheet into two sections having equal or different cross-sectional thicknesses, the cross-sectional thickness of the lower split section Iii? being determined by the distance between the top surface 63 of the lower support plate 53 and the top surface 64 of the shoulder 61 thereof and the cross-sectional thickness of the upper split section 110 being determined by the distance between the top surface as of the shoulder 61 and the top surface ill? of the sheet M5.

in order to vary the position where the indenting element 89 indents and splits the end of the sheet ms, the top plate 62 of the lower support plate 53 could be changed for another plate having a smaller or larger cross-sectional thickness whereby the supporting top surface 63 of the lower support plate 53 would be disposed at a different distance relative to the top surface 64 of the shoulder 61 thereof. In this manner the lower split section 109 of a sheet received in the apparatus 11 would have a different cross-sectional thickness.

Another means for changing the indenting location of the apparatus 16 is to insert a shim 112 between the indenting element 89 and the shoulder 38 of the cam 49 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 18. Another shim 113, having thesame cross-sectional thickness as the shim 112, is then secured on the top surface 64 of theshoulder 61 of the lower support plate 53 whereby the indenting element 89 is raised a predetermined distance above the top surface 63 thereof. In this manner the indenting element 89 indents a flat sheet 114 into two sections 115 and 116, the section 115 having a greater cross-sectional thickness than the section 116.

Another means for determining the position that the indenting element 89 will indent a sheet at any desired location is illustrated in FIGURE 19. In particular, the plate 117 of the lower support plate 53 is carried by one or more threaded posts 118 respectively received within bores 119 formed in the support member 54 and base 11. Each post 118 is telescopically received within an internally threaded nut 120 rotatably supported within the support member 54. Each nut 12th is provided with a plurality of angularly disposed gear teeth on the exterior thereof which mesh respectively with a worm gear 121 supported on a shaft 122 rotatably carried by the support member 54. The shaft 122 projects beyond the end 123 of the support member 54 and has a turning device 124 secured on the end thereof.

In this manner, when the shaft 122 is rotated by the turning device 124, either manually or automatically, the worm gears 121 carried thereby rotate the nuts 120 relative .to the posts 118 whereby the posts 118 are raised or lowered in order to raise or lower the top surface 125 of the plate 117 relative to the top surface 64 of the shoulder 61 of the upper support plate 53. If desired, suitable identifying marks 126 may be disposed on the side of the support member 54 in order to indicate the distance between the top surface 125 'of the support plate 53 and the top surface 64 of the shoulder 61 thereof; Also, a suitaable scale and pointer arrangement could be disposed behind the turning device 124 to provide means for determining the location-at which the indenting element 89 will split a flat sheet when received in the apparatus 11).

While the indenting element 89 has been described as being wedge-like and being adapted to split a sheet into two sections whereby only one section is deformed outwardly and thus compressed into a resilient member carried by one of the relatively movable support plates, the indenting element 89 could be formed in a manner illus- -trated in FIGURE 20.

.127 whereby the indenting pin 127, when moved into .the sheet-like zone 87, splits an end 133 of a sheet 134 into the two sections 135 and 136. Since the indenting pin 127 has a conically shaped indenting end 128 the sections 135 and 136 are both forced outwardly by the indenting end 128 and are thereby respectively compressed into the resilient members 73 and 132. In this manner the metal of the split sections 135 and 136 is not subjected to adverse forces and the apparatus is adapted to indent sheets of different cross-sectional thicknesses.

The shoulder 61 of the lower support plate 53 is provided with a semi-circular groove 137 adapted to complementarily receive the cylindrical portion of the pin 127 when the same is moved into the sheet-like zone 87. Since the end 96 of the hold-down member 95 spans the groove 137 and rests on the flat surface 64 of the shoulder 61 when the pin 127 is in the sheet-receiving position, the end 133 of the pin 127 is adapted to earn the hold-down member 95 upwardly when the pin 127 is initially moved into the zone 87. Further, the cylindrical portion of the pin 127 reaches the shoulder 61 of the lower support plate 53 before the end 138 of the pin 127 makes contact with the end 133 of the sheet 134.- Therefore, the pin 127 is properly aligned by the shoulder 61 and hold-down member 95 prior to and while the same splits the sheet 134.

It should be also understood that although the other support plate 65 is shown as having only a portion 73 thereof formed of resilient material, the same could be made entirely of resilient material if desired.

While the embodiments and forms of the invention now preferred have been disclosed in accordance with the requirements of the statute, other forms may be used all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A sheet splitting apparatus comprising a frame, a pair of relatively movable support plates carried by said frame to define a fiat sheet-like zone between opposed flat surfaces thereof and to hold a sheet stationary in said zone, one of said support plates having at least a portion of said surface thereof formed of resilient material, and a forcibly movable member carried by said frame and having an indenting element movable into and dividing said zone into two areas in the region of said resilient material, said indenting element progressively split-ting said sheet into two portions as said element is progressively moved into said zone to progressively compress one of said split portions into said resilient material whereby said surface of said one support plate engages said sheet not only at said one split portion thereof but also on opposite sides of said one split portion.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said indenting element has a chisel-shaped indenting end.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said indenting element has a conically shaped indenting end.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the other of said support plates has a shoulder projecting .above said surface and engageable by said indenting element, and said one support plate carries a movable holddown member resiliently urged into engagement with said shoulder whereby said indenting element is guided into said zone between said hold-down member and said shoulder.

6. A sheet splitting apparatus comprising a first frame member, a second frame member carried by said first frame member and movable relative thereto, a pair of relatively movable support platescarried respectively by said frame members to define a flat sheet-like zone between opposed flat surfaces thereof and to hold a sheet stationary in said zone, one of said support plates having at least a portion of said surface thereof formed of re silient material, and a forcibly movable member carried by said first frame member and having an indenting element movable into and dividing said zone into twoareas in the region of said resilient material, said indenting element progressively splitting said sheet into two portions as said element is progressively'moved into said zone to progressively compress one of said split portions into said resilient material whereby said surface of said one sup port plate engages said sheet not only at said one split portion thereof but also on opposite sides of said one split portion.

7. A sheet splitting apparatus comprising a first frame member, a second frame member carried by said first frame member and movable relative thereto, a pair of relatively movable support plates carried respectively by said frame members to define a fiatsheet-like zone between opposed flat surfaces thereof and :to hold a sheet stationary in said zone, one of said support plates having at least a portion of said surface thereof formed of resilient material, a fixed cam carried by said second frame member, a movable cam carried by said first frame member and being engageable by said fixed cam, and an indenting element carried by said movable cam whereby relative movement of said frame members toward each other forcibly moves said indenting element into said zone in the region of said resilient material, said indenting element progressively splitting said sheet into two portions as said element is progressively moved into said zone to progressively compress one of said split portions into said resilient material whereby said surface of said one support plate engages said sheet not only at said one split portion thereof but also on opposite sides of said one split portion.

8. A sheet splitting apparatus comprising a frame, a pair of relatively movable support plates carried by said frame to define a fiat sheet-like zone between opposed flat surfaces thereof, a forcibly movable indenting element carried by said frame and movable into and dividing said zone into two areas, and means operatively interconnected to said indenting element and to one of said support plates for tending to move said one support plate toward the other support plate with a progressively increasing force while moving said indenting element into said zone, whereby said force increases the further said indenting element splits a sheet disposed in said zone said means moving said one support plate away from said other support plate while permitting said indenting element to move away from said zone.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said last-named means maintains said support plates in said zone-defining position until said indenting element is removed from said zone.

10. A method for splitting at least a portion of an end of a flat sheet into two sections comprising steps of holding said sheet stationary between opposed fiat surfaces of a pair of relatively movable support plates defining a flat sheet-like zone therebetween, one of said support plates having at least a portion of said surface thereof formed of resilient material, and forcing an indenting element into said zone to split at least a portion of the end of said sheet into two sections and compress one of said sections into said resilient material while said indenting element is being moved into said zone whereby said surface of said one support plate engages said sheet not only at said one section thereof but also on opposite sides of said one section.

11. A method for splitting at least a portion of an end of a fiat sheet into two sections comprising the steps of holding said sheet stationary between opposed flat surfaces of a pair of relatively movable support plates defin ing a flat sheet-like zone therebetween, said support plates each having at least a portion of said surface thereof formed of resilient material engaging said sheet, and forcing an indenting element into said end of said sheet to split at least a portion of the end of said sheet into two sections and compress said sections respectively into said resilient material of said support plates while said indenting element is being moved into said zone whereby said surfaces of said support plates engage said sheet not only at said sections thereof but also an opposite sides of said sections.

12. A method for splitting at least a portion of an end of a flat sheet into two sections comprising the steps of placing said sheet on a fiat surface of a first support plate, moving a surface of a flat second support plate into engagement with said sheet to maintain said sheet between said support plates, one of said support plates having" at least a portion of said surface thereof formed of resilient material engaging said sheet, and progressively compress ing said support plates together while forcing an indenting elementinto said end of said sheet to split atleast a portion of said end of said sheet intotwo sections and compress one of said sections into said resilient material while said indenting element is being moved into the space between said support plates whereby said surface of said one support plate engages said sheet not only at said one section thereof but also on opposite sides of said one section.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12 and including the step of removing said indenting element from said sheet while maintaining said sheet between said support plates.

14. In combination, a frame a pair of relatively movable support plates carried by said frame to define a fiat sheet-like zone between opposed flat surfaces thereof and to hold a fiat sheet in said zone, each of said support plates having at least a portion of said surface thereof formed of resilient material, and a forcibly movable member carried by said frame and having an indenting element movable into said zone to split at least a portion of the end of said sheet into two sections and to respectively compress said sections into said resilient material of said support plates while said indenting element is being moved into said zone whereby said surfaces of said support plates engage said sheet not only at said sections thereof but also on opposite sides of said sections.

15. In combination, a frame, a pair of relatively movable support plates carried by said frame to define a flat sheet-like zone between opposed flat surfaces thereof and to hold a flat sheet in said zone, one of said support plates having at least a portion of said surface thereof formed of resilient material, a forcibly movable member carried by said frame and having an indenting element movable into said zone to split at least a portion of the end of said sheet into two sections and to compress one of said sections into said resilient material whereby said surface of said one support plate engages said sheet not only at said one section thereof but also on opposite sides of said one section, and means for varying the relative position between said zone and said indenting element whereby said indenting element splits said end of said sheet at a selected position while said indenting element is being moved into said zone.

16. In combination, a frame, a pair of relatively movable support plates carried by said frame to define a fiat sheet-like zone between opposed flat surfaces thereof and to hold a fiat sheet in said zone, one of said support plates having at least a portion of said surface thereof formed of resilient material, the other of said support plates having a shoulder projecting above said surface thereof, a forcibly movable member carried by said frame and carrying an indenting element, said indenting element being guided by said shoulder and moved into said zone in order to split at least a portion of the end of said sheet into two sections and to compress one of said sections into said resilient material whereby said surface of said 'one support plate engages said sheet not only at said one section thereof but also on opposite sides of said one section, and means for varying the relative position between said zone and said indenting element whereby said indenting element splits said end of said sheet at a selected position.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said means for varying the relative position between said zone and said indenting element comprises a movable platelike portion carried by said other support plate and defining said surface thereof whereby movement of said plate-like portion relative to said shoulder varies the 7 ll 12 position of said zone relative to said indenting element. ReferencesCited in the file of this patent 18. A11 apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein UNITED STATES PATENTS said means for'varying'the relative position between said V V zone and said indenting element comprises a pair of shims 385811 Johnston f July 1888 having the same eross-setional thickness, one shim being 5 a if disposed between said indenting element and said forcibly ay a movable member, and the other shim being secured to p FOREIGN PATENTS said shoulder whereby said indenting element is spaced 499,567 Great Britain Jan. 25, 1939 from said surface of said other support plate. 516,572 Great Britain Jan. 5, 1940 

10. A METHOD FOR SPLITTING AT LEAST A PORTION OF AN END OF A FLAT SHEET INTO TWO SECTIONS COMPRISING STEPS OF HOLDING SAID SHEET STATIONARY BETWEEN OPPOSED FLAT SURFACES OF A PAIR OF RELATIVELY MOVABLE SUPPORT PLATES DEFINING A FLAT SHEET-LKE ZONE THEREBETWEEN, ONE OF SAID SUPPORT PLATES HAVING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID SURFACE THEREOF FORMED OF RESILIENT MATERIAL, AND FORCING AN INDENTING ELEMENT INTO SAID ZONE TO SPLIT AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE END OF SAID SHEET INTO TWO SECTIONS AND COMPRESS ONE OF SAID SECTIONS INTO SAID RESILIENT MATERIAL WHILE SAID INDENTING ELEMENT IS BEING MOVED INTO SAID ZONE WHEREBY SAID SURFACE OF SAID ONE SUPPORT PLATE ENGAGES SAID SHEET NOT ONLY AT SAID ONE SECTION THEREOF BUT ALSO ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID ONE SECTION. 